Minnesota’s Tim Pawlenty has tapped a strategist for John McCain’s successful presidential nomination bid as his new national political director.

In a news release this morning, Pawlenty stressed Jon Seaton’s experience in Iowa organizing, saying Seaton moved to Iowa in July 2007 to work as national field director for McCain. McCain came in fourth in the Iowa caucuses in 2008 but was the eventual Republican nominee.

“In Iowa, Seaton managed staff, coalitions, surrogate activity and candidate travel while also serving as the state’s campaign spokesman,” Pawlenty said in the statement.

Pawlenty, a former governor of Minnesota, was the first better-known Republican to make an official move toward a presidential bid when he announced an exploratory committee on March 21. He said Tuesday on CNN he’ll “have a final or full announcement in the coming weeks here.”

On Monday, he said he hired Nick Ayers, one of the most sought-after GOP operatives, to be the manager of his exploratory committee.

Seaton will move from the Washington, D.C. area to Minnesota, where Pawlenty has housed his headquarters.

Pawlenty went on to cite Seaton’s other experience in Iowa, home of the nation’s first caucuses: He managed a Congressional campaign in western Iowa and oversaw election day strategies and get-out-the-vote activities in Iowa for George W. Bush’s re-election campaign in October 2004.

“Jon is one of the Republican Party’s top political organizers, and Mary and I are grateful that he’s joining our team,” Pawlenty said in the statement, referring to his wife.

“Jon has the skills, energy and experience to organize the grassroots army that can’t wait to defeat President Obama. With Jon’s help, we’re going to unite all parts of the conservative movement around an optimistic agenda to take back our country.”

Seaton runs the political consultant firm East Meridian Strategies in Alexandria, Virg. He and his wife, Kristina Seppala, have a 2-year-old daughter, Annabelle.